A Consultant Psychiatrist and Brain Health Advocate, Prof. Taiwo Obindo, has urged Nigerians to prioritise activities that enhance brain health in order to reduce the risk of dementia and other cognitive disorders.
Obindo, immediate past President of the Association of Psychiatrists of Nigeria (APN), gave the advice in an interview with journalists on Friday in Lagos.
He said there were various lifestyle modifications Nigerians, particularly the elderly, could adopt to reduce the risk of cognitive disorders and improve brain health.
Citing the World Health Organisation (WHO), Obindo described brain health as “the state of brain functioning across cognitive, sensory, social-emotional, behavioural and motor domains, allowing individuals to realise their full potential over the life course.”
He added that brain disorders such as stroke, migraine, headache disorders, dementia, head injuries, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, neuroinfectious diseases and over 400 other disorders affect approximately three billion people globally and are the leading cause of disability.
According to him, many of these disorders can be prevented by modifying risk factors.
The psychiatrist said over 50 per cent of dementia cases can be prevented through steps such as maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, and learning new hobbies.
On strokes, Obindo said no fewer than 80 million people worldwide were currently living with the effects of stroke, adding that about 90 per cent of strokes could be prevented by addressing just ten modifiable risk factors, including treating hypertension, increasing physical activity and maintaining a healthy diet.
“Research reveals that engagement with activities like reading, learning, music and playing musical instruments can refresh the brain, thereby reducing the risk of dementia and other cognitive disorders,” he said.
“Our brain health is the key to our overall health – it’s the agent for all human actions and experiences as a species.
“There are about eighty billion neurons (nerve cells) that make up the human brain. Each neuron sends out an electrical wire, known as an axon, which is covered with a membrane called myelin that speeds up conduction and communication.
“Maintaining a healthy brain during one’s life is the uppermost goal in pursuing health and longevity.
“Good brain health means more than just the absence of disease. It also includes overall healthy cognitive functioning, resilience, and a state of well-being where individuals feel able to fulfil their potential,” he said.
The psychiatrist called on Nigerians to prioritise brain health and pay closer attention to the warning signs of cognitive disorders.
He advised people to consider mental health assessment when certain cognitive behaviours affect daily life, while emphasising the need for increased awareness and school education on brain health.
Obindo urged policymakers to invest in brain health-friendly community activities, healthy ageing programmes and social inclusion initiatives that improve people’s knowledge on the need to protect the brain.
“Awareness campaigns on the consequences of neglecting the brain can be taken to primary and secondary schools to mould young minds on habits that maintain brain health and lead to healthy ageing,” he said.
